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Angucyclines are a family of structurally diverse, aromatic polyketides with some members that exhibit potent bioactivity. Angucyclines have also attracted considerable attention due to the intriguing biosynthetic origins that underlie their structural complexity and diversity. Balmoralmycin (compound 1) represents a unique group of angucyclines that contain an angular benz[α]anthracene tetracyclic system, a characteristic C-glycosidic bond-linked deoxy-sugar (d-olivose), and an unsaturated fatty acid chain. In this study, we identified a Streptomyces strain that produces balmoralmycin and seven biosynthetically related coproducts (compounds 2−8). Four of the coproducts (compounds 5−8) are novel compounds that feature a highly oxygenated or fragmented lactone ring, and three of them (compounds 3−5) exhibited cytotoxicity against the human pancreatic cancer cell line MIA PaCa-2 with IC(50) values ranging from 0.9 to 1.2 μg/mL. Genome sequencing and CRISPR/dCas9-assisted gene knockdown led to the identification of the ~43 kb balmoralmycin biosynthetic gene cluster (bal BGC). The bal BGC encodes a type II polyketide synthase (PKS) system for assembling the angucycline aglycone, six enzymes for generating the deoxysugar d-olivose, and a hybrid type II/III PKS system for synthesizing the 2,4-decadienoic acid chain. Based on the genetic and chemical information, we propose a mechanism for the biosynthesis of balmoralmycin and the shunt products. The chemical and genetic studies yielded insights into the biosynthetic origin of the structural diversity of angucyclines. IMPORTANCE Angucyclines are structurally diverse aromatic polyketides that have attracted considerable attention due to their potent bioactivity and intriguing biosynthetic origin. Balmoralmycin is a representative of a small family of angucyclines with unique structural features and an unknown biosynthetic origin. We report a newly isolated Streptomyces strain that produces balmoralmycin in a high fermentation titer as well as several structurally related shunt products. Based on the chemical and genetic information, a biosynthetic pathway that involves a type II polyketide synthase (PKS) system, cyclases/aromatases, oxidoreductases, and other ancillary enzymes was established. The elucidation of the balmoralmycin pathway enriches our understanding of how structural diversity is generated in angucyclines and opens the door for the production of balmoralmycin derivatives via pathway engineering.

Post-glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) attachment to proteins 3, also known as PGAP3 or PERLD1 (PER1-like domain-containing protein 1), participates in the lipid remodeling process of glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) anchor proteins during post-translational modification. Functional defect in PERLD1 was previously hypothesized to influence this process in T-cells and their subsequent activation and proliferation. This current study aims to functionally characterize PERLD1 genetic variants and relate this with human immune cells proliferation rate upon stimulation. We first showed the association between a PERLD1 tag-single nucleotide polymorphism (tagSNP), rs2941504, and the development of asthma in our study population. This association remained significant after conditioning for the other asthma-associated SNP rs8076131 that is also located within the 17q12–21 region. Subsequent sequencing of 40 unrelated Singapore Chinese individuals identified 12 more common PERLD1 SNPs (minor allele frequency > 5%) that are in linkage disequilibrium (LD, r2 > 0.8) with rs2941504. Through in vitro studies, 7 of these SNPs were found to form a functional haplotype that influences alternative splicing of PERLD1 transcript. This result was validated in human peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC), where the minor haplotype (Hap2) was shown to be associated with significantly increased PERLD1 truncated transcript. Additionally, Hap2 was found to be related to increased levels of several soluble GPI-anchored proteins (such as sCD55 and sCD59) in serum. Elevated sCD55 in the serum was demonstrated to reduce the proliferation rate of PBMCs upon phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) stimulation. Taken together, the current study has shown a functional PERLD1 haplotype, which modifies PBMC sensitivity upon stimulation and may contribute to the individual’s susceptibility to allergic asthma.

Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), a benzoquinone present in most organisms, plays an important role in the electron-transport chain, and its deficiency is associated with various neuropathies and muscular disorders. CoQ10 is the only lipid-soluble antioxidant found in humans, and for this, it is gaining popularity in the cosmetic and healthcare industries. To meet the growing demand for CoQ10, there has been considerable interest in ways to enhance its production, the most effective of which remains microbial fermentation. Previous attempts to increase CoQ10 production to an industrial scale have thus far conformed to the strategies used in typical metabolic engineering endeavors. However, the emergence of new tools in the expanding field of synthetic biology has provided a suite of possibilities that extend beyond the traditional modes of metabolic engineering. In this review, we cover the various strategies currently undertaken to upscale CoQ10 production, and discuss some of the potential novel areas for future research.

Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), a benzoquinone present in most organisms, plays an important role in the electron-transport chain, and its deficiency is associated with various neuropathies and muscular disorders. CoQ10 is the only lipid-soluble antioxidant found in humans, and for this, it is gaining popularity in the cosmetic and healthcare industries. To meet the growing demand for CoQ10, there has been considerable interest in ways to enhance its production, the most effective of which remains microbial fermentation. Previous attempts to increase CoQ10 production to an industrial scale have thus far conformed to the strategies used in typical metabolic engineering endeavors. However, the emergence of new tools in the expanding field of synthetic biology has provided a suite of possibilities that extend beyond the traditional modes of metabolic engineering. In this review, we cover the various strategies currently undertaken to upscale CoQ10 production, and discuss some of the potential novel areas for future research.